Ted’s Favorite Way to Relax

There’s a guy I know named Ted, and he has a very stressful job. He’s one of those “gotta get it done yesterday” kind of guys who still carries a phone on his hip. Ted’s always busy. I once said to him, “Teddy Boy (I call him Teddy Boy), you’re probably going to be too busy to even go to your own funeral!” We all had a great laugh about that, but I think it struck a chord with Ted. Later that night, he came up to me and said, “Say, Denny, what you said back there. You have a point.” “Look, bro,” I said to him (sometimes I call him “bro”), “it was just a joke. But yeah, you really are busy. Maybe a little too busy. I mean, have you ever heard of relaxing?” “Hey, you’re right, Denny. You’re right. Something needs to change.”

That exchange with Ted happened about a decade ago, and I can honestly say that he is a changed man now. Sure, he still has a stressful job and everything, but I really think he knows how to relax now. The last time I was at his house, he took me into his study. He pointed to a reclining chaise lounge in the corner and said, “See that? That’s the key to my relaxation right there.” “The chaise?” I asked. “It’s not just a chaise,” he said. “It reclines.” I took a seat and reclined back, and you know what? I think Ted’s on to something.